Rename this post "X will ban your paid account for literally no reason at all and there's absolutely no way to appeal", cut down the intro to stick to the point, then link the post as a community note to any tweet Elon makes regarding the censorship resistance of X.
That would be pretty satisfying. I sadly can't post on X because of the suspension and making a new account violates the TOS and would result in a ban. Maybe it would get some visibility though and be worth it?
The thing is, I actually believe that they believe in Free Speech / resisting censorship. I don't think they understand how many real accounts are getting caught up in their attempt to eradicate bots. Or perhaps they didn't have a full appreciation for the value of human review in their 'Trust and Safety' division, which seems like it is now a ghost town.
IMO there is no sense in obeying the terms of service if the service is not being offered as per the agreed upon terms. But if the suspension isn't too long, then might as well wait for it to be lifted before doing exactly as above.
Goal here isn't to convince people that they don't care about free speech. Just to convince them to 1. Fix their shit and 2. Commit to not autobanning blue checks. You paid to prove that you're human, least they can do is use part of that money to resolve any doubts on the matter.
Great points! The risk of additional ban/suspensions on a burner X account to post is high due to my affiliation is high, but gaining visibility might be worth it (especially in a community note like you mentioned). Sadly, my suspension is permanent, which adds to the frustration.
I agree, the goal is to push for better moderation and support systems. Hopefully, someone at X will see this and realize they’re mistakenly banning regular paid accounts as bots.
I'm really sorry that happened. Even though all the social media platforms are repulsive in their own ways, it's still infuriating to hear about things like that. It's outrageous that these platforms (and increasingly conventional businesses) keep customers at arm's length by automating everything. Especially when it's a matter of something as substantial as a lifetime ban there absolutely should be not just a human review process but a human immediately stepping in and handling the case. If anyone's violating the terms of service in those situations it's the platforms, which present themselves as ways for people to connect, communicate, expand their businesses, and raise their profile with customers and colleagues--but which then think nothing of banning people who have tried to do exactly that, sometimes after putting years of work into their accounts. Users should also have the right to face their accusers, even if the accuser remains anonymous, by knowing *exactly* which content was allegedly reported, and a human representative should be required to explain *exactly* how the content violates the TOS. Sending a canned message citing the TOS but refusing to explain how someone actually violated it is bullshit, especially when they won't even cite the offending material. And when I say "should be required" I mean required by the guy who runs the company.
As for Musk, I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. If he wanted things to be different there, they would be. If he wanted X to be fair, responsive, and rational, it would be. It wouldn't be set up to jerk people around for no reason. Whatever he is, he's not a defender of free speech.
It probably won't make you feel any better, but Twitter suspended me two years ago for posting Thomas Jefferson's "tree of liberty" quote. That was it. Just the quote. I'm starting to think that what triggers AI is rational content.
I appreciate the sympathies and fully agree with you. These social media accounts develop significant value as their networks expand, which takes enormous amounts of resources to achieve. Being able to lose all of that accumulated value because of a reporting troll or an automated moderation tool is really unacceptable.
I was under the impression that this was part of the hangover from purchasing Twitter and all of the restructuring to become X. But as time goes on, it's clear that these wrongs are no where near being addressed. I hate even putting all of the time into discussing a topic like this, because I think there are so many more important things we could be talking about. But this seemed like an issue worth drawing attention to. Particularly because of the importance of free speech.
That Jefferson quote is a favorite of mine as well. For better or worse, AI is here to stay. Hopefully we can help steer the ship closer to a future we are excited about.
I meant to add this other Jefferson quote: "The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches. We must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time, and eternally press forward for what is yet to get." The pressing forward part has to be eternal because the other side counts on us to get tired, while it will never rest.
Then there's this from an Instagram meme I clipped in 2023, possibly attributable to Gerard Rennick: "The reason speaking out is so important is that it lowers the perceived risk of those who are still silent and have something to say. Your courage matters. Your words matter. Every voice is a key to unlocking another's."
It's less part of the hangover than of the infiltration. Missouri v Biden and the Twitter Files are just two outrages prooving that the government is deeply involved in deciding which content stays and goes and whether the AI is applied fairly or not. Besides the straight-up coercion, there's a revolving door between workers in DC and Silicon Valley, so recognizing the First Amendment as inviolable almost never gets in their way.
You may have noticed the silence from the social media companies when the Twitter Files broke. None of them said, "Yes! Yes! We've been forced into cancelling people! They made us! Look, here are the emails! It's been horrible! We long to be free!" After some token foot-dragging when they were first approached years ago, they've been contentedly complicit in torching the First Amendment ever since. These are companies with over a billion users around the world. They have the visibility, reach, and even the political power to free themselves if they wanted things to be different.
The AI are becoming self aware and your posts are a threat to their future! On a serious note though, I think X was left in a miserable state when acquired by Elon and with so many of their departments that have now been wiped out, I doubt we'll see change any time soon. I think a lot of companies are beginning to rely too heavily on AI in general when it's clearly not up to human standards. I think upwards of 80% of people aren't even using the self driving feature on their Tesla's anymore being legally they will be held accountable for AI error. Just a mess, but more content for you!
Haha I would gladly trade the content on this for still being on the platform where I can talk about things I care far more about!
The human inclusion in moderation is obviously still critical. I think even from a purely fiscal standpoint, there is a lot of money being thrown away by booting real users off the platform that are paying for subscriptions and ads as seen in the examples.
That AI algorithms are rudimentary at best. Everything is automated with little to no oversight and this is across all social media. There are certain things that trigger this more. A. Your posts are extra lengthy or your comments to posts are lengthy (reach max length regularly). You include source material and site references. Instagram as an example does not like this and will put you in IG jail for it. Working with AI today, I truly believe that as it evolves this problem will improve for it’s current state; unless they only focus on generating revenue versus improving services.
I would like to build a social media platform that is egoless. The AI understands ego concepts and interjects when it detects ego, helping guide conversations. There would be a different set of recognitions that were more thoughtful than just a like and posts would get rewarded that encouraged growth, intelligence and egoless / interconnected types of responses. The only challenge is, with a world that is mostly possessed by the human ego, I don’t know how successful it would be ;).
Thanks for your AI algorithm insights. I wish I would have known this better before getting my permanent suspension. I think they are also trained to discourage or punish content that links users outside the platform. It seems there are many unwritten rules that are part of the learning curve for new users. I hope there is some type of digital bill of rights that includes requiring a transparent appeals process. I would still greatly like to recovery my account, even if to just view news on X.
Social media platforms have been changing a lot. I don't know if building a full platform could happen, but maybe a walled garden where we can get more of the community we want!
Leveraging AI for advise on the poor AI algorithms at X ;).
1. Persistent Appeals: Your friend should continue submitting appeals through X’s official channels. It may take multiple attempts before a human review is conducted, sometimes up to 40 appeals.
2. Detailed Explanation: In each appeal, he should clearly explain why his account does not violate X’s rules, referencing specific guidelines and how his content aligns with them.
3. Professional Context: He should emphasize his status as a doctor and the professional nature of his posts, which may help prioritize his case.
Alternative Approaches
If the standard appeal process fails, consider these options:
1. Public Outreach: Use other social media platforms or professional networks to bring attention to the issue. Sometimes, public visibility can prompt action from X.
2. Contact X Executives: Try reaching out to X executives or employees through LinkedIn or other professional networks.
3. Legal Consultation: If the account is crucial for his professional work, consulting with a lawyer specializing in digital rights might be worthwhile.
4. Create a New Account: As a last resort, he could create a new account using a different email and phone number, preferably accessed through a VPN to avoid detection. However, this should only be done if all other options have been exhausted, as it may violate X’s terms of service.
Thanks Alexander! It's a great point as to why KPIs aren't a 'be all end all' - GIGO indeed.
I haven't tried Bluesky yet. I've been a bit hesitant to reinvest in another platform, holding out hope that I would eventually receive my account back. What's your experience with Bluesky been like?
Bluesky is OK, they added DMs just the other day. It's in its early days still, so it is a good time to start over there, I think. In the end, these platforms are all the same. I have more reach on Substack after one year, having started at zero than all the other platforms combined, where I have had accounts since 2004.
I couldn’t agree more. Substack feels like its own special ecosystem and doubling down here is the way to go. Maybe that’s the point of this whole experience.
To X’s credit, I found it was a helpful way to gather current events. But I digress.
Have you tried reaching out directly to Twitter employees through the app? Or perhaps someone with far more followers than myself or you to try and gain awareness?
I'm unfortunately unable to contact anyone through the app since my account is permanently suspended. I was also informed if I attempt to circumvent the suspension by making another account, this would be another violation of TOS and result in that account being suspended. The only direct contact with X employees I have had has been through LinkedIn. I direct messaged 20-30, but haven't had any replies.
I sadly don't have connections with any big accounts, but I'm hoping to be able to find someone in the future that can help.
I'm still permanently suspended - all my appeals are met with automated replies. I attempted making another account and that is also banned for it being affiliated with me.
It's worse than it sounds. I've sent them at least 40 messages from multiple accounts, even paying for another premium + subscription to attempt to reach customer service. It looks like this has happened to a number of folks when I search the problem.
Rename this post "X will ban your paid account for literally no reason at all and there's absolutely no way to appeal", cut down the intro to stick to the point, then link the post as a community note to any tweet Elon makes regarding the censorship resistance of X.
That would be pretty satisfying. I sadly can't post on X because of the suspension and making a new account violates the TOS and would result in a ban. Maybe it would get some visibility though and be worth it?
The thing is, I actually believe that they believe in Free Speech / resisting censorship. I don't think they understand how many real accounts are getting caught up in their attempt to eradicate bots. Or perhaps they didn't have a full appreciation for the value of human review in their 'Trust and Safety' division, which seems like it is now a ghost town.
IMO there is no sense in obeying the terms of service if the service is not being offered as per the agreed upon terms. But if the suspension isn't too long, then might as well wait for it to be lifted before doing exactly as above.
Goal here isn't to convince people that they don't care about free speech. Just to convince them to 1. Fix their shit and 2. Commit to not autobanning blue checks. You paid to prove that you're human, least they can do is use part of that money to resolve any doubts on the matter.
Great points! The risk of additional ban/suspensions on a burner X account to post is high due to my affiliation is high, but gaining visibility might be worth it (especially in a community note like you mentioned). Sadly, my suspension is permanent, which adds to the frustration.
I agree, the goal is to push for better moderation and support systems. Hopefully, someone at X will see this and realize they’re mistakenly banning regular paid accounts as bots.
Wait if your suspension is permanent then what exactly are you worried about? Effectively banned either way, right?
I'm really sorry that happened. Even though all the social media platforms are repulsive in their own ways, it's still infuriating to hear about things like that. It's outrageous that these platforms (and increasingly conventional businesses) keep customers at arm's length by automating everything. Especially when it's a matter of something as substantial as a lifetime ban there absolutely should be not just a human review process but a human immediately stepping in and handling the case. If anyone's violating the terms of service in those situations it's the platforms, which present themselves as ways for people to connect, communicate, expand their businesses, and raise their profile with customers and colleagues--but which then think nothing of banning people who have tried to do exactly that, sometimes after putting years of work into their accounts. Users should also have the right to face their accusers, even if the accuser remains anonymous, by knowing *exactly* which content was allegedly reported, and a human representative should be required to explain *exactly* how the content violates the TOS. Sending a canned message citing the TOS but refusing to explain how someone actually violated it is bullshit, especially when they won't even cite the offending material. And when I say "should be required" I mean required by the guy who runs the company.
As for Musk, I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. If he wanted things to be different there, they would be. If he wanted X to be fair, responsive, and rational, it would be. It wouldn't be set up to jerk people around for no reason. Whatever he is, he's not a defender of free speech.
It probably won't make you feel any better, but Twitter suspended me two years ago for posting Thomas Jefferson's "tree of liberty" quote. That was it. Just the quote. I'm starting to think that what triggers AI is rational content.
I appreciate the sympathies and fully agree with you. These social media accounts develop significant value as their networks expand, which takes enormous amounts of resources to achieve. Being able to lose all of that accumulated value because of a reporting troll or an automated moderation tool is really unacceptable.
I was under the impression that this was part of the hangover from purchasing Twitter and all of the restructuring to become X. But as time goes on, it's clear that these wrongs are no where near being addressed. I hate even putting all of the time into discussing a topic like this, because I think there are so many more important things we could be talking about. But this seemed like an issue worth drawing attention to. Particularly because of the importance of free speech.
That Jefferson quote is a favorite of mine as well. For better or worse, AI is here to stay. Hopefully we can help steer the ship closer to a future we are excited about.
I meant to add this other Jefferson quote: "The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches. We must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time, and eternally press forward for what is yet to get." The pressing forward part has to be eternal because the other side counts on us to get tired, while it will never rest.
Then there's this from an Instagram meme I clipped in 2023, possibly attributable to Gerard Rennick: "The reason speaking out is so important is that it lowers the perceived risk of those who are still silent and have something to say. Your courage matters. Your words matter. Every voice is a key to unlocking another's."
It's less part of the hangover than of the infiltration. Missouri v Biden and the Twitter Files are just two outrages prooving that the government is deeply involved in deciding which content stays and goes and whether the AI is applied fairly or not. Besides the straight-up coercion, there's a revolving door between workers in DC and Silicon Valley, so recognizing the First Amendment as inviolable almost never gets in their way.
You may have noticed the silence from the social media companies when the Twitter Files broke. None of them said, "Yes! Yes! We've been forced into cancelling people! They made us! Look, here are the emails! It's been horrible! We long to be free!" After some token foot-dragging when they were first approached years ago, they've been contentedly complicit in torching the First Amendment ever since. These are companies with over a billion users around the world. They have the visibility, reach, and even the political power to free themselves if they wanted things to be different.
"Prooving." Ugh.
The AI are becoming self aware and your posts are a threat to their future! On a serious note though, I think X was left in a miserable state when acquired by Elon and with so many of their departments that have now been wiped out, I doubt we'll see change any time soon. I think a lot of companies are beginning to rely too heavily on AI in general when it's clearly not up to human standards. I think upwards of 80% of people aren't even using the self driving feature on their Tesla's anymore being legally they will be held accountable for AI error. Just a mess, but more content for you!
Haha I would gladly trade the content on this for still being on the platform where I can talk about things I care far more about!
The human inclusion in moderation is obviously still critical. I think even from a purely fiscal standpoint, there is a lot of money being thrown away by booting real users off the platform that are paying for subscriptions and ads as seen in the examples.
That AI algorithms are rudimentary at best. Everything is automated with little to no oversight and this is across all social media. There are certain things that trigger this more. A. Your posts are extra lengthy or your comments to posts are lengthy (reach max length regularly). You include source material and site references. Instagram as an example does not like this and will put you in IG jail for it. Working with AI today, I truly believe that as it evolves this problem will improve for it’s current state; unless they only focus on generating revenue versus improving services.
I would like to build a social media platform that is egoless. The AI understands ego concepts and interjects when it detects ego, helping guide conversations. There would be a different set of recognitions that were more thoughtful than just a like and posts would get rewarded that encouraged growth, intelligence and egoless / interconnected types of responses. The only challenge is, with a world that is mostly possessed by the human ego, I don’t know how successful it would be ;).
Thanks for your AI algorithm insights. I wish I would have known this better before getting my permanent suspension. I think they are also trained to discourage or punish content that links users outside the platform. It seems there are many unwritten rules that are part of the learning curve for new users. I hope there is some type of digital bill of rights that includes requiring a transparent appeals process. I would still greatly like to recovery my account, even if to just view news on X.
Social media platforms have been changing a lot. I don't know if building a full platform could happen, but maybe a walled garden where we can get more of the community we want!
Leveraging AI for advise on the poor AI algorithms at X ;).
1. Persistent Appeals: Your friend should continue submitting appeals through X’s official channels. It may take multiple attempts before a human review is conducted, sometimes up to 40 appeals.
2. Detailed Explanation: In each appeal, he should clearly explain why his account does not violate X’s rules, referencing specific guidelines and how his content aligns with them.
3. Professional Context: He should emphasize his status as a doctor and the professional nature of his posts, which may help prioritize his case.
Alternative Approaches
If the standard appeal process fails, consider these options:
1. Public Outreach: Use other social media platforms or professional networks to bring attention to the issue. Sometimes, public visibility can prompt action from X.
2. Contact X Executives: Try reaching out to X executives or employees through LinkedIn or other professional networks.
3. Legal Consultation: If the account is crucial for his professional work, consulting with a lawyer specializing in digital rights might be worthwhile.
4. Create a New Account: As a last resort, he could create a new account using a different email and phone number, preferably accessed through a VPN to avoid detection. However, this should only be done if all other options have been exhausted, as it may violate X’s terms of service.
Sorry to hear, David.
Xitter... it does not surprise me, of course, it sucks. Their FCR is 100%, though. Nothing you can achieve by using humans.
I gave up on Twitter a long time ago. Have you tried Bluesky?
Thanks Alexander! It's a great point as to why KPIs aren't a 'be all end all' - GIGO indeed.
I haven't tried Bluesky yet. I've been a bit hesitant to reinvest in another platform, holding out hope that I would eventually receive my account back. What's your experience with Bluesky been like?
Bluesky is OK, they added DMs just the other day. It's in its early days still, so it is a good time to start over there, I think. In the end, these platforms are all the same. I have more reach on Substack after one year, having started at zero than all the other platforms combined, where I have had accounts since 2004.
I couldn’t agree more. Substack feels like its own special ecosystem and doubling down here is the way to go. Maybe that’s the point of this whole experience.
To X’s credit, I found it was a helpful way to gather current events. But I digress.
If I were to invest time, I'd focus on Substack, better ROI. Hands down.
Have you tried reaching out directly to Twitter employees through the app? Or perhaps someone with far more followers than myself or you to try and gain awareness?
I'm unfortunately unable to contact anyone through the app since my account is permanently suspended. I was also informed if I attempt to circumvent the suspension by making another account, this would be another violation of TOS and result in that account being suspended. The only direct contact with X employees I have had has been through LinkedIn. I direct messaged 20-30, but haven't had any replies.
I sadly don't have connections with any big accounts, but I'm hoping to be able to find someone in the future that can help.
I'm still permanently suspended - all my appeals are met with automated replies. I attempted making another account and that is also banned for it being affiliated with me.
It's worse than it sounds. I've sent them at least 40 messages from multiple accounts, even paying for another premium + subscription to attempt to reach customer service. It looks like this has happened to a number of folks when I search the problem.
Any recommendations for a lawyer?